On expressway, left lane for trucks, right only for overtaking

PUNE: Heavy vehicles, especially trucks, often seen illegally blocking the extreme right lane of the busy Pune-Mumbai expressway will soon be a thing of the past. The Pune district collectorate is gearing up to not only ensure that these vehicles are kept off the lane, but also smaller vehicles, from occupying this section.

According to a draft order issued by Pune district collector Vikas Deshmukh on May 10, all heavy vehicles will have to follow strict rules and travel only on the left lane. The central lane will be used for light vehicles, while the lane at the extreme right is to be used only for overtaking.

The draft order states that the lane rules will be applicable in the Pune district area — from Kiwale (the Pune end of the expressway) to Amrutanjan bridge, near Khandala.

The collectorate has invited suggestions and objections from citizens on the said rules within 30 days of the draft order. The same can be sent to the superintendent of police, state highways, Pune division, Raja bungalow area, Mumbai-Pune highway, Khadki, Pune 411003.

"There have been major violations of lane discipline on the expressway as heavy vehicles use the middle or the extreme right lane. The absence of lane discipline and negligent driving has been a major cause of increasing number of accidents as well as traffic congestion. The state highway police, Pune division, has brought this to the notice of the district collectorate," the order says.

Superintendent of police (highways), Pune division, Dilip Bhujbal said there is a need to implement these measures to ensure lane discipline, besides reducing accidents and traffic congestion on the expressway.

The rules, after they come into force, will be printed on toll tickets and notice boards and road signs will be put up along the 94-km stretch of the expressway.

TIMES VIEW

Blatant violation of lane discipline rules on the Pune-Mumbai expressway has been a cause for concern for long. The situation is particularly worrisome during night hours when heavy and slow-moving vehicles such as trucks occupy all the three lanes and light vehicles cut lanes dangerously to move ahead. The absence of lane discipline coupled with negligent driving has led to many accidents as well as traffic congestion on the expressway. The collector's draft order to enforce lane discipline and empower the highway police to take action against errant drivers is a welcome and much-needed step.